Progressive Talking Points 1/4/06

The House that Jack Built

In what has been heralded as the biggest corruption scandal to infect Congress in a generation, mega-lobbyist Jack Abramoff pled guilty yesterday to three counts: fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. Another guilty plea pertaining to fraud and conspiracy in Florida is also looming. As a result of the plea deal, Abramoff is required to provide information about several House and Senate members as well as congressional staffers. The extent of this web of corruption is unknown and will likely be revealed in the coming months, but it is certain that the Abramoff scandal unveiled the culture of corruption permeating the conservative leadership in Washington.

• Jack Abramoff had close ties to the White House and the administration. Jack Abramoff enjoyed a close relationship with the Bush administration. He was a "Pioneer" for the 2004 Bush re-election effort as a result of having helped raise more than $100,000 for the campaign. Many members of the administration were accused of being a part of Abramoff’s bribery schemes and in 2003, Abramoff asked for and received $9 million from the president of Gabon to secure a meeting with President Bush. In May 2004, Gabon's president met with Bush. President Bush also helped Abramoff get out of trouble in Guam, where he was under investigation, by removing the federal prosecutor on the case – the inquiry ended soon after.
  
  
• The Abramoff scandal involves top conservative leadership on Capitol Hill. The Abramoff scandal touches many top conservative Congressmen, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Speaker of the House Denis Hastert, Majority Whip Roy Blunt, and Deputy Whip Eric Cantor. DeLay was "Abramoff's closest ally in the Republican leadership.” Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH) was the only congressman mentioned in court papers filed yesterday. Ney, the Chairman of the House Administration Committee, is "accused of meeting with one of Abramoff's clients in Russia in 2003 to 'influence the process for obtaining a [U.S.] visa' for one of the client's relatives and of agreeing to aid a California tribe represented by Abramoff” on tax and post office issues.
  
  
• The Abramoff scandal highlights the need for real reform in Congress. If there is a bright spot to the Abramoff scandal, it’s that Congress should now have all the impetus it needs to pursue real reform. Some members of Congress have already stepped forward with proposals to change the way Congress does business. Rep. David Obey (D-WI) was one of the first members of Congress, along with three other colleagues, to offer a comprehensive proposal for rules changes that would make it more difficult for lawmakers to sneak provisions into legislation on behalf of special interests. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) have introduced separate proposals that would crack down hard on lobbying as it is now practiced.